VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 500 veteran and amateur singers from southern provinces took part in a singing contest featuring traditional songs native to southern Viet Nam recently.

Southie: Ca Mau-based singer Tran Thi Nhu Huynh travelled a long road to become one of the 2008 Vong Co Golden Bell Contest’s 10 semi-finalists.

“Vong co is a set of sad and languorous tunes depicting the thoughts, dreams and laments of local farmers in the old days. The music is part of the country’s spirit,” said Tran Thi Nhu Huynh, a resident of Ca Mau Province, who is one of the contest’s 10 semi-finalists.

“Through my performance, I hope to encourage young people, particularly urban youngsters, to learn and love the traditional vong co,” added the 22-year-old girl.

Huynh faced challenges during selective rounds because “my competitors were perfect in voice and performance skills,” she said.

Huynh’s family and friends are among several thousand audience members who have enjoyed weekly vong co programmes on HTV channels every week.

They will vote for three finalists who will compete for top prizes in the final round next week.

Le Minh Hao, 31, from Ben Tre Province is confident of his success in the final stage.

“I began singing vong co fat an early age. I like the music because through it a rural man like me can learn a lot about the country’s history and culture,” said Hao, who promises he will show off something new in performance.

In the contest’s first semi-final on Thursday, Hao performed two vong co songs and some pieces from popular cai luong plays, such as Su Tich Trau Cau (The Legend of Betel and Areca).

His strong voice and dance skills garnered more than 9,000 audience votes.

Hao and other singers will compete for three top prizes called Golden Bell, Silver Bell and Bronze Bell, which will be judged by veteran artists and music researchers.

“Our organisers will offer the Golden Bell winners opportunities to develop their professional career on stage after the competition,” said Nguyen Chi Tan, general deputy director of HTV and a member of the contest’s organising board.

“We’re thirsty for victory,” said Hao. “But the most important thing is that we hope to encourage youngsters’ appreciation for the many forms of traditional Vietnamese music.”

The contest’s semi-final rounds are broadcast on HTV9 every Thursday and Saturday. The final round will take place on November 20 at HTV Theatre on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1, HCM City.

(Source: Viet Nam News)